Bundling cradle



BUNDLING CRADLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 3, 1952 Inventmf: (f7/5752 A. #VH/555m .l

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March 23, 1954 C A. wHlssEN BUNDLING CRADLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 3, 1952 f wi 617/5575@ WH/jE/M @5i/fan@ Patented Mar. 23, 1954 UNITED STATE arr/2,992l

. BUNDLING CRADLE Chesterl A. VVlihissenQLorain.Ohio, assignor to Corporation, a corporation United States Steel of New Jersey Application Janes, 1952,v

"7 claims. (ci. 214-110.5')

'This invention relates to cradles for. bundling elongated articles, such as pipes.

An object of the invention is to provide an irnproved bundling cradle, which furnishes a rigid article receiving structure approaching circular outline for bundling articles introducedthereto and which automatically opens while a completed bundleis lifted therefrom.

A more specic object is to provide a bundling cradle which has a pair of fpivotally mounted arms, each approaching semicircular proiile, said arms being adapted to assume a rigid relation for receiving articles for bundling, and automatically opening while a completed bundle is lifted from the cradle.

accomplishing these andother objects of the invention, I have provided improved details of` structure, a single form of whichv is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a -top plan view of a series of cradles constructed in accordance with the `present invention; v

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of one of the cradles shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the cradle;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line IV IV of Figure 3; and a Figure 5 is a fragmentary top plan view on a larger scale.

Y As shown in Figures 2 and 3, each cradle includes a rigid upright frame which ,is formed of a pair of spaced apart vertical side'plates I0 and I2, a pair of endplates I3 and I4, and a top plate I5. The end rand top plates preferably are Welded to the side plates. 'I heframe is fixed to a foundation as with angle irons I6 welded to the side plates and bolted to the foundation. The side plates are of approximately rectangular outline, but have relatively large U-shaped cutouts I1 which extend downwardly fromtheir upper edges and have arcuate lower portions. The upper. edgesof the side plates opposite the top plate I5 slope downwardly toward these cutouts, as indicated at I8, to enable articles to roll therein gravtationally. n

vA pair of arms vI9 and 20 are pivoted to-the Iframe on pins 2|, each of which extends between the side yplates I0 and lI2 and is locatedon a differltsi? 0f the Guiglia I? (Figuran.

am 1. f

serial No. 291,428

v2 is formed of a pair of spaced apart side plates 22 and 23, the inner edges of which are of arcuate profile approaching a semicircle, cover plates 24 and 25 welded tol these side plates, and a tubular bearing 25 also welded to the side plates and receiving one of the pins 2|. Likewise `arm 20 is formed of a pair of similarlyshaped side plates 21 and 23, cover plates29 and 30 and a tubular bearing 3I receiving the other pin 2|. The semi circular proles of arms I9 and 20 have substantially the same radius as the lower arcuate portion of the cutout I 1.

.{Ihe side plates 21 and 2 8 of arm 20 are spaced closer together than the side plates 22 and 23 of arm I9 and the lower portion of arm 20 can slide within that of arm I3 (Figures 4 and 5). The cover plate 25 of arm I9 terminates short ofthe lower extremity of the arm to permit such telescoping. Thus the lower portions of the arms can move past each other in parallel planes. The lower portions of the side plates 21 and 28 of arm 20 contain arcuate slots 32, while the lower portions of the side plates 22 and 23 of arm` I9 carry a pin 33 which rides in said slots as the arms pivot about their'pins 2I. Thus the pin and slot act as stop means that limit pivotal movement of the arms. The lower port'ons .off the arms carry counterweights 34 which tend to turnarm I9 clockwise andV arm 20 y counterclcckwise to the closed positionshown in solid lines in Figures 2 and 4. The outside upper portions of the side plates of the arms Apreferably have triangular extensions 35 which prevent articles from dropping between the outside of the armsv and the frame. a

In actual installations several cradles constructed as just described aresituated in aligned relation as shown in Figure l'. Articles, such as pipes P, are placed' on the sloping upper edge I8 of the 'frame and roll into the cutouts I1 and the space between the arms I9 and 20. These arms in conjunction with the frame form a substantially rigid article receivingstructure approaching circularl outline, but with an opening at the top, f for ybundling articles introduced thereto, since engagement of pin 33 withtheA lower end of slots 32 prevents lfurther closing of the arms.y After'thev cradles receive va sufficient number of articles to form alrnindleV of the desired size, the bangle is .,nfcemhrefiqmbx suitable.

equipment, not shown. As the bundle is lifted, it pushes against the undersides of the arms I9 and 20, which arms automatically pivot outwardly about their pivot pins 2l, and thus open to the position shown in dot-dash lines in Figure 2. In this latter position they do not interfere with the removal of the bundle, but as soon as the bundle is clear, the counterweights 34 return them to closed position for receiving another load.

I have shown the cradle as equipped with means for preventing articles from dropping freely through too great al distance and thus incurring possible damage as they are introduced. This means includes a third side plate 36 in the. frame spaced from the side plate I2 and of similar shape. end plates 3l welded to both side plates and by an extension of the top plate; t5'. A clevis 38h-is connected between plates |2' andv 36 at one `side of cutouts Il and a sprocket 39 at the other side. A chain 40 is connected to clevi's 38, extends.- across the upper part of the cutouts. 1.1 over sprocket 39 and into a hole 4| in the foundation. The lower end of the chain carries a Weight 42. The articles drop. on the chain 401, rather than directly into the cradle. TheY weightt2 is sum'- cient tol support thearti-cles partially, so that they are lowered gently intov the cradle Without damage.

While I have shown and described' only a single embodiment of the invention, it isapparent that modiications may arise. Thereforel do not Wish to be limited' to the disclosure set forth but only-by thescope ofthe appended claims.

If claim-r 1. A bundling cradle comprising a framev having a cutout extending`` downwardly from its upper edge, a pair of arms pivoted izo-said frame on opposite sides orsai'd` cutout,` the opposed innerfaces of said arms being of` arcuate profile with each approaching a semicircle,said arms being relatively movable past eachother-@in parallel planes at their lower` endf portions and having a closed position in which theyformy a rigid article receivingV structure approaching; circular outline' with an opening atV the top for: bundling articles introduced thereto, and an open positionin which theypermit; bundles to bei'lif-ted' therefrom, and means normally returning said arms to 'their closed position.

2; A bundling -cradlje comprising a` frame hav'- ing a cutout extending downwardly from its-y up,- per edge, a pair of' arms pivoted to said'frame on opposite sides of said cutout, the opposed' inner faces of saidY armsV being of' arcuate pronle with each approaching a semicircla the lower' end portions of said arms being relatively'movable past each other in parallel planes, stopmeans on the lower portions of said arms limiting their pivotal movement, said" arms having a closed position in, whichV they form a rigid' article receivingl structurel approaching circular outline with an opening at the topfor bundling articles introduced thereto and an open. position inwhich they permitbundles "to bel lifted therefrom, andl weighted meansv normally returning said arms to their closed position.

3. A bundling cradle comprising5 a rigid frame having a cutout extending downwardly from its upper edge, a pair of' arms. pivoted to saidr frame on opposite sides, of said cutout, the opposed in ner faces of said' arms being of arcuate prol'e with each approaching a. portions 'of' said arms being relatively-l movable Plate 36 is connected to plalei'li; im

semicircl'e, the lower past each other in parallel planes, a pin and slot connection at the lower portion of said arms limiting their pivotal movement, said arms having a closed position in which they form a rigid article receiving structure approaching circular outline with an opening at the top for bundling articles introduced thereto, and an open position in which they permit bundles to be lifted therefrom, and Weighted means at the lower portions of said arms normally returning them to their closed position.

4V- Avbundling cradle comprising a rigid frame formed' of spaced apart vertical side; plates and connecting means, said side plates having U- shaped cutouts extending downwardly from their upper edges, a pair of arms pivoted to said side plates inv the space therebetween on opposite sides of said cutouts, the opposed inner faces of said arms being of" arcuate prole with each appreaching. asemi'circle, the lower portions of said arms being relatively movable past each other parallel.'plaines,v stop means on the lower portions of said arms limiting their pivotal movement, said arms having aclosed position in which they form a rigid article receiving structureV approaching circular outline withA an opening at the top for bundling articlesJ introducedV thereto, and an open posit-ion in whichV they permit bundles to belifted' therefrom, and` vweighted. means normally returning said'A armsV to their closed position.

5i A bundling cradle comprisinga rig-id frame formed of spaced apar-t vertical sidel pla-tes and connecting'meansfsaid side plates having U- shaped cutoutsex-tending downwardly-from their upper'eelges and having arcuate lower portions, a pairv of arm-sl pivotedA to said# vside platesI in the spaceftherebetween onopposite sides5 of saidl cutouts; the opposed innerfacesA of said armsbeing of arcuate profile with each approaching asemicircle of' substantially the same rad-ius as the loWerpo-rtions of saidL cutouts, the lowerportions of saidI armsbei-ng relatively movable-*past eac-h other in parallel planes, apin and-slot connectionva-t the. lower portion ofi said arms ylimiting their-pivotal movement, said arms having a closed position in which they form a rigid articleu receivingy structure approachingA 4circular outline concentric with the lowery portions of." saidteutouts, but having an opening at the top, for bundling articles introduced thereto, and an open position in which theypermitbund-les to belifted therefrom, and weighted meansnormallc returning; saidfarmsto their closed position;

6. A bundling cradle comprising a frame-having a cutout extending downwardly-I irom: its u-pper edge, a pair of arms pivoted tosai'd frame on opposite sides off said' cutout, the opposedl linnen faces of' said arms being of arcuateprofile-With eachv approaching a semicirele', saidf arms being relativelyfmovable pastY each other: in parallel planesV ati their lower portions, stop means on thel lower portions of saidtarms; limitingutheir pivotal' movement, saidarmsy having:y a closed position which they form` a rigidi article` receiying structure approaching ,circular outline with an opening at the-topfor bundling articles introducedthereto, and anfopenposition inwhich they permit articles toI be Alifted therefrom, weighted means normally returninggsai'd'4 armsA to their closed position, the upper edge offsaiid' frame having a sloping portion allowing 'articles to roll into the space between said, arms, and extensions on the'outside edges' of; said' arms preventing, articles from entering` the-"spaces between the 6 outsides of said arms and the inside of said cutarticles introduced thereto and an open position out. in which they permit bundles to be lifted there- '7. A bundling cradle comprising a frame havfrom, stop means limiting pivotal movement of ing a cutout extending downwardly from its said arms toward their closed position, and upper edge, a pair of arms pivoted to said frame means normally returning said arms to their on opposite sides of said cutout, the opposed inclosed position.

ner faces of said arms being of arcuate profile CHESTER A. WHISSEN. with each approaching a semicircle, the lower end portions of said arms being movable past References Cited in the me of this patent each other in parallel planes, said arms having 10 a closed position in which they form a rigid UNITED STATES PATENTS article receiving structure approaching circular Number Name Date outline with an opening at the top for bundling 1,654,402 Binns Dec. 27, 192'? I 

